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Presented By
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FACES & PLACES 
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If you haven't heard,
The T is taking rail transportation by storm, and Fort Worth will have a commuter train route to and from
DFW International Airport by 2018 (fingers crossed). During yesterday's luncheon at
Courtyard Fort Worth at Alliance Town Center, The T's COO Shawn Donaghy provided insight (along with detailed maps) on the new rail system along with advancements that have been made to existing bus routes in North-west Tarrant. He also unveiled a new bus route coming to the
West 7th area and Route 64 going all the way to Denton.
L to R: Laura Hanna, Rebecca Montgomery, Shawn Donaghy, and Shelley Davis, all with
Fort Worth Transportation Authority.
View pics from a variety of Chamber events, click
here.
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Ruler of the range: Fort Worth, Texas magazine has a brilliant idea that would be hard to replicate. In what industry could you cook up a Super Bowl-like competition of four previous annual champions that wouldn't have lost their players or skills? Sports? No. Accounting? No. Surgeons? No. Next Wednesday, Jan. 25 at River Ranch, the magazine's four previous Top Chef Challenge champions, including Blaine Staniford from Chamber member Grace Restaurant, will try to out-dice and out-spice each other for the title of Top Chef Master. This is a ticketed event and Publisher Hal Brown (Sugar) sent over a pair. There will be drink and food -- unfortunately it's not the leftovers from the competition -- and a feast of fun is sure to be served.
 These are not your daughter's cookies: Girl Scout cookie sales have started and 2017 marks the 100th anniversary of the first known sales. They were sugar cookies. And only sugar cookies were sold until 1951. Today, there are eight varieties -- one is gluten-free; all are kosher -- but only Thin Mints, Peanut Butter Sandwich/Do-si-dos and Shortbread/Trefoils are mandatory sales products. Last year, for the first time, digital sales were encouraged. The sales(wo)manship helps girls learn business and sales, manage finances and gain confidence in handling money. Thanks to Jessica Lewis of the Girl Scouts of Texas Oklahoma Plains, all B2B Insider has to handle is giving away one case of S'mores and one case of your choice.
He probably was a Jetsons fan: Vinnie Mirchandani is the President of Deal Architect, but he isn't a card shark and he isn't an architect. What he is and what he will do is re-structure your strategic thinking about technology and explain how it can affect and improve your workplace. He is a 1980 TCU Neeley School of Business MBA grad and returns to campus next Tuesday for the Tandy Executive Speaker Series breakfast. Use your technology for an RFP for a seat at the Chamber table.
Commercial timeout: One of Mr. B's 13 bosses asked him to promote the Chamber's mailing labels in B2B Insider. Labels go to businesses that might purchase your product, which makes money. So, break through the digital clutter with good ol'-fashioned paper and ink! You'll receive one set of mailing labels for direct mail, 2,213 addresses of the primary representative for every Chamber member company. The Chamber has to have final approval of correspondence before it is sent.
Congratulations to January 11th Prize Winners:
- Christina Toups, Ridglea Country Club
- Francie Cooper, Tarrant Area Food Bank
- Shannon Worthington, Casa Mañana
- Steve McCune, McCune Construction
- Chad Snyder, Collier's International
- Lea Keck, American Paint Horse Association
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HE SAID, SHE SAID, THEY SAID
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Don't be asleep at the wheel: Employers, don't forget that there is a new and earlier Jan. 31 filing deadline for Forms W-2 and some 1099s, including independent contractors, to the Internal Revenue Service.
Puttin' on the hurt 1: Brett Jeffreys, Handyman Matters, has his right arm in a sling/box contraption another few weeks. He had repairs to three tears in and around his shoulder and a joint out of place. There was pain, for sure, "but I waited since June for the surgery because of a pre-arranged hunting lease."
Puttin' on the hurt 2: Cheryl Jones, City of Fort Worth's Business Assistance Center, has her right hand in a cast another few weeks. "Somewhat playful and somewhat annoyed," she punched her 26-year-old son Joey. He was fine. She was sore and has a boxer's fracture, which is the bone at the base of the pinky finger. "I need to practice my right hook," she said.
Not your father's civics class: Seven students from
The Hill School are getting quite the government lesson this week. They raised $2,600 each and are in D.C. for the inauguration.
Short work week: Donald Trump officially starts work Friday. He parties the entire first day and immediately gets a weekend off. Good luck, Mr. President.
 Smile across the aisle: Orlando Carvalho, Executive Vice President of
Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, says the two major political parties have a commitment to defense. "We work closely with Republican and Democrat administrations," he said. "In many ways, we're agnostic."
Marathon man: Chad Snyder of
Colliers International - North Texas/Fort Worth has knocked "run a marathon" off his bucket list. "I don't recommend it," he said. "It was a stupid idea." Chad can expect marathon nights with his first child due any day now.
B2B Insider giveaway update: Chris Gebhardt,
Lackland Security, won one short stack of pancakes every week for a year from the
Original Pancake House. "Every Monday. The pancakes are great," Chris said. "It definitely makes it easier to get out of bed to start a new week. I get caught up on e-mail, enjoy a hot cup of coffee and a short stack of buttermilk pancakes. The Original is still the best, especially with its warm maple syrup. The unexpected gem has been the orange juice. It is made fresh squeezed and it is amazing. This will be a hard habit to kick."
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"If you are not telling your story, someone else is."
--
Rosa Navejar
The Rios Group
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 Name is the same, but...: Lee Johnson Capital Management is without Lee Johnson for the first time since, well, forever. He has retired. Andy Heinz, who started there more than 20 years ago as an intern, is the new owner. The LJCM moniker will remain for at least two years.
Well suited: The
Chamber board of directors never should have legal troubles. Michael Appleman of
Cantey Hanger and new
Kelly Hart & Hallman leader Marianne Auld make two Managing Partners on the board. Also directing are Dee Kelly Jr., who Auld succeeded at Kelly Hart, and Janet Hahn of
Decker Jones.
You won't find this in the Business Press: Meredith Connor, 16-year-old daughter of Richard Connor and Deborah Connor of the
Fort Worth Business Press, won the gold medal after two first-place runs at the USA Snowboard Association Rocky Mountain Series. She competed in Slopestyle; competitors snowboard to a ramp 40-feet high, make the jump, land and ride to a series of rails they jump on and ride. "Meredith started snowboarding at age 13," Deborah said. "During a cranky teenage week before winter break, I decided she needed outdoor activity, so I enrolled her in a snowboarding camp in Maine. She fought me on the idea, but I made her go. Mother's intuition."
Madame Chairman: She may be part of Sedona Productions at
Cendera Center now, but Ellen Ray has a history with boards and board (bored?) members. Here are a few tips from her 16-point checklist explaining what makes an effective board member:
- Do what is lawful and necessary for the organization to carry out its mission.
- Attend board meetings, set direction and policy and be knowledgeable about programs and services.
- Help assure the agency's future through strategic planning.
- Participate in annual fundraising efforts, special events.
- Recommend individuals for board or committee service; act as an advocate and goodwill ambassador.
Just wondering: Would you rather be
Star-Telegram foodie Bud Kennedy or
Grace Restaurant chef Blaine Staniford?
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MARK YOUR CALENDARS
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Date Event Name
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DIRECT MAIL STILL WORKS!
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 Use for direct mail to Chamber businesses. (Avery 5160)
Available formats:
- Geographic area set (North, South, Central, West, East; see map here. Contact Christine directly to order.)- $75 for Chamber members
- Full membership set (approx. 2,000 addresses)- $300 for Chamber members
Sorted by zip code. Visit our
eCommerce store to purchase (you must be logged in as a member to view "Members Only" products) or contact
Christine Gores.
*Member price. Price excludes tax.
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